Principal and Chief Administrative Officer

Salt Lake Arts Academy 
 Principal and Chief Administrative Officer 
Starting Date: July 1, 2019 
www.slarts.org

Salt Lake Arts Academy is hiring for a new Principal and Chief Administrative Officer to lead the school beginning in July of 2019.

About Us 
Salt Lake Arts Academy (SLArts) is a highly-regarded public charter school serving 400 students in grades 5 -8 in downtown Salt Lake City.  We were founded in 2003 by a group of educators and parents, and were one of the first 12 charter schools in Utah. SLArts’ charter is granted  by the Utah State Board of Education and we are our Local Education Authority (LEA), with oversight provided by a volunteer Governing Board, comprising parents and community leaders. Our school is Accredited by AdvanceEd, and in 2017 SLArts was designated an “A” school by the Utah State Board of Education. Students are admitted by lottery, and public demand for our program is strong; SLArts maintains a yearly waiting list of approximately 200 students.  

Our MIssion 
SLArts’ mission is to prepare students to become confident and creative builders of their future, equipped through the arts and academics to take responsibility for shaping our community.  We envision all students excelling through the middle school years with confidence, passion and engagement. Our diverse student body comes to SLArts from 30 different zip codes along the Wasatch Front, and our community includes an active and engaged parent community.

What Makes SLArts Special? 
The Arts are central to our school’s mission and vision. We believe that integrating the arts throughout the academic core builds creative habits of mind in our students that lead to achievement.  Each of our students receives at least one hour of arts education every day of the year, in Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts or Digital Arts.  Our committed and creative Faculty of 25 hold our students to high academic standards and teach a rigorous, integrated curriculum following the Common Core.  We serve students with Special Education needs as wells gifted students and our Faculty is tasked with differentiating curriculum for students across the learning spectrum.  Our students outperform their peers regularly on state-mandated assessments. We also believe character education and personal responsibility are critical aspects of student success and we weave Social and Emotional Learning into our weekly schedule.  Our school’s social vision is that of a community where respect, inclusion, safety and empathy are paramount. 

Our school is tech-savvy, with a 1:1 device-to-student ratio, and we are training our entire faculty to become Google Certified Educators. Our new leader will be someone who understands the nuances of technology in the classroom, is committed to implementing best classroom technology practices and who can mentor teachers as they improve their  technology skills. We are also committed to teaching our students about accessing the rich resources of their community; we ride public transportation, we look for opportunities for engagement with community partners in the arts, in academia and in public service.  We are located in an urban neighborhood with exciting development occurring around us.  

Major Duties and Responsibilities of the Principal / CAO

Working closely with school leaders, the principal ensures that decisions are driven by Gateway’s focus on achieving equitable student outcomes. The principal is responsible for:

• Clearly articulating the mission and vision through all aspects of our program including collaboration with Faculty and Governing Board.
• Working collaboratively with thee Governing Board in support of school and organizational priorities.
• Partnering with families to better understand parent experience and needs.
• Building a positive faculty culture at the school, including attracting and selecting diverse and mission-driven staff, supporting a collaborative team culture, and managing and evaluating performance.
• Managing daily operations to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment.
• Managing school resources, including establishing priorities and maintaining budget targets.
• Working collaboratively with SLArts staff on shared initiatives, including student enrollment, articulation of programs, fundraising and strategic planning.
• Ensuring state and local compliance related to reporting, accreditation, and charter renewal.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to working with students from diverse backgrounds and learning profiles.
• Ability to translate SLArts’ unique educational mission and vision into practice.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a dedicated staff and involved parent body.
• Strong leadership, organizational and communication skills.
• At least five years’ experience working with middle school students preferred.
• Administrative credential required and prior administrative experience in a relevant role preferred;
• BA or BS degree; advanced degree in education preferred.

Compensation:

 Competitive Salary and Benefits Package, including Health Insurance and participation in the Utah Retirement System.

To Apply:   Please send a cover letter describing your interest in Salt Lake Arts Academy, a detailed Resume or CV, and three letters of Recommendation to Scott Messersmith, Governing Board Chair, at principal@slarts.org.   Applications will be accepted until August 1, 2018.  Salt Lake Arts Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.